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The manager gives his thoughts on his sides fine 2-0 win over Celtic at Fir Park.

Paul McGinn says despite the strong run of form, the league remains tight as ever and just a couple of poor results could change the outlook on the team. 

McGinn is looking for a more clinical edge within the squad, and also discusses how the manager communicates so effectively with the team.

Jens Berthel Askou says there were lots of positives to take from Saturday’s defeat, and believes his side are coming up against a Celtic side that are growing in confidence. 

Askou is asked about the controversial penalty claim his side had at Ibrox, and also speaks about Regan Charles-Cook.

Going to Ibrox this time around felt a little different for the Steelmen. There was expectation in the air that Motherwell could go to Govan and control proceedings. 

Chances arrived early, with Lukas Fadinger and Elijah Just unable to convert. From there, Rangers began to grow into the game with goalkeeper Calum Ward doing everything he could to protect his consecutive clean sheet record.

With both sides rueing missed opportunities, and both goalkeepers alert between the posts, the deadlock would not be broken until the second half.

A tap in for Thelo Aasgaard gave Rangers the lead as Motherwell chased for the leveller. In a basketball game that was going from side to side, the game neared its conclusion but not before a massive penalty claim for Motherwell was waved away before the full time whistle.

Motherwell play their final fixture of 2025 against Celtic on Tuesday 30 December at Fir Park. 

Kick off is 8pm.

How to follow the game

• Young Adults tickets would ages 13-17.
•  Concessions are classed as, Over 65, Full Time Students, 18-21 Year olds.
• Juveniles would be 12 and under

On Match days, the Ticket Office is open from 11am – the ticket office is open until kick-off with no pay gate facility.

There will be no online sales as we need to check they have a continuous purchase history.

Supporters can buy tickets by visiting the ticket office at Fir Park.

If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.

Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.

What else is happening?

The Cooper Bar is open from 5:30pm for food and drink, and will be open for one hour after full time for those wanting to avoid any traffic. Home fans only.

Our Beer Garden will be closed on Tuesday night.

The Kieran McDade Foundation will be collecting money via bucket collection tomorrow night. We have been made aware of unlicensed money collectors who have been located around Fir Park. Please only donate to official bucket collectors, who can be identified as they will be wearing official collectors bibs.

Motherwell’s Fortunes

Motherwell’s ten-league-game unbeaten run came to a close on Saturday against Rangers. The 1-0 defeat was the first defeat the Steelmen had suffered in the league since October.

It was also the first goal Motherwell had conceded in the league since 22 November. But the performance had many positives that can be taken into this match against Celtic.

Motherwell came very close to a big result at Celtic Park last time out. A mix-up in defence allowed Celtic to equalise before Daizen Maeda scored in stoppage time to snatch victory on the day.

Opposition Report

Wilfried Nancy and Celtic have begun to find their feet in the league over the last two games. A 4-2 win over Livingston last time out came after Nancy’s first victory as Celtic boss against Aberdeen the week prior.

Those two big results arrived after a torrid spell. Four consecutive defeats to Hearts, Roma, St Mirren and Dundee United put new manager Nancy on the back foot from the off.

Benjamin Nygren scored in the previous meeting between Motherwell and Celtic and is currently Celtic’s top scorer in all competitions with eight goals. Nancy is missing a number of players through injury currently, including Kelechi Iheanacho, Saracchi, Callum Osmand, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston and Jota, with Tounekti and Michel Balikwisha on international duty at AFCON.

Kasper Schmeichel missed the last match.

Motherwell’s unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday against Rangers at Ibrox, with the Gers winning 1-0. 

Thelo Aasgaard’s tap-in proved to be the difference, but in truth, both sides should have scored more than their final count.

Jens Berthel Askou made two changes to his team. Regan Charles-Cook dropped out of the squad, with Callum Slattery named amongst the subs. Tom Sparrow and Ibrahim Said were handed starts.

With Motherwell ten games unbeaten and having kept six consecutive clean sheets in the league, going into this match, there was a sense that a positive result could be achieved at a difficult venue.

Having won on their two previous visits to Govan, the Steelmen lined up and played their usual possession-based football early on.

Youssef Chermiti had the first half chance of the afternoon inside five minutes. The Portuguese forward drove forward but couldn’t get a shot away after Johnny Koutroumbis tackled.

Motherwell then had their first chance just a minute later. A ball into the box found Tom Sparrow unmarked, but the Welshman headed wide of the mark, with the linesman’s flag eventually going up for offside.

The away fans were encouraged more when Elijah Just got in behind the Rangers’ backline, forcing the home side back into their own box. A free kick was won 35 yards from goal on eight minutes; Elliot Watt’s delivery only found a Rangers head, but the early signs were positive for the Steelmen.

Lukas Fadinger picked up the ball on the halfway line and made his way forward. The Austrian had options but opted for a shot from 20 yards, but his effort was saved by Jack Butland.

Fadinger then had a great chance to open the scoring. Stephen Welsh’s chipped ball forward was laid off perfectly to Fadinger by Sparrow; this time the Austrian connected well, but Butland saved with his feet to keep the score level after 12 minutes.

It only took another minute for a huge chance to arrive for Motherwell. This time Ibrahim Said was sent on his bike in behind; the forward passed across to Callum Hendry, who saw his effort saved from inside the box.

The pressure kept on coming from Motherwell, with Hendry’s smart flick setting up Just to look for Fadinger, but the ball was overrun this time. But the Ibrox crowd were beginning to get frustrated.

Gassama had Rangers’ first big chance on 19 minutes; the ball fell to the forward on the edge of the box, but his curling effort went over the bar.

Calum Ward then produced a wonderful double save to keep the score level on 20 minutes. Thelo Aasgaard then had some of Ibrox on its feet when he hit the side netting on 27 minutes after jinking through the Motherwell defence.

The tide began to turn with Rangers creating more chances. Emmanuel Longelo got an important block from Chermiti’s strike on the half-hour mark, but Rangers had their tails up.

Motherwell managed to regain some control, and Elijah Just had a massive chance to open the scoring on 43 minutes. Hendry’s back-heel sent Just through on goal, but Butland saved once again.

Gassama then saw his effort saved from close range on 44 minutes, with Ward standing firm at his near post. That would be the final big chance of the first 45, with both sides left frustrated at not being able to convert one of their many chances.

No changes were made for either side at the interval, and the second-half began with both sides aiming to be more clinical in front of goal. Rangers thought they achieved that on 47 minutes when Raskin converted Gassama’s cross, but the goal was ruled out for offside with Ward impacted by Chermiti.

Motherwell tried to hit Rangers on the counter-attack on 57 minutes. Longelo burst out of defence and fed the ball to Just, but the New Zealander’s cross was cleared before Said could get on the end of it. Just was involved again a minute later. Watt’s long, curling pass found Just, who reached the ball before the on-rushing Butland, but the danger was cleared by the Rangers defence.

Calum Ward produced a magnificent save on the hour mark to deny Chermiti, as the forward cutely flicked the ball towards the far corner; Koutroumbis then slid in to block a certain goal from Moore. Unbelievable defending. Chermiti then saw his header saved again by Ward, who was working immensely hard between the sticks.

Ward comfortably saved Raskin’s effort from outside the box on 64 minutes, as Rangers regained control of proceedings. But just seconds later, Butland produced a wonderful save to deny Hendry, who brought the ball down in the area before blasting a powerful volley on target. Butland pushed the ball to safety, but it gave the Steelmen some renewed energy.

But that energy was then wiped out as Gassama cut inside and sent a shot towards the far corner, which was saved by Ward, but Aasgaard was there to knock it home.

There was a triple change following the goal, with Hendry, Just and Koutroumbis coming off. Stamatelopoulos, O’Donnell and Slattery came on, and just moments later, Longelo was presented with a wonderful chance to level. The full-back had ventured to the edge of the box; with the ball falling onto his weaker right foot, he couldn’t keep the strike on target.

Jayden Meghoma had a strike saved on 83 minutes, as Motherwell began to throw caution to the wind to find the equaliser. Esapa Osong came on for Sparrow, with Jens Berthel Askou opting for an attacking finish.

As the game drew to a close, the game became wide open. Motherwell left very few in defence, meaning Rangers had numerous opportunities to finish the match as a contest. But, they couldn’t convert, and when Fadinger burst into the box and knocked the ball past Fernandez and was ready to pull the trigger in the penalty box, he went down as the defender left a dangling leg in Fadinger’s path. Despite strong claims, the referee and VAR didn’t intervene, to the frustration of the Motherwell players and bench.

Motherwell Team: Ward, Koutroumbis, McGinn, Welsh, Longelo, Watt, Fadinger, Sparrow, Just, Said, Hendry. 

Motherwell Subs: Connelly, O’Donnell, Gordon, Priestman, McAllister, Slattery, Osong, Stamatelopoulos, Ross.

The manager gives his views after Motherwell suffered just their third league defeat of the season.

Johnny Koutroumbis lays out his Christmas Day plans, as the Motherwell players look forward to a well-earned day off with their family. 

With Koutroumbis hosting, he explains the importance of having some of the players round to his house at Christmas time.

Jens Berthel Askou is expecting his side to be competitive once again on Saturday against Rangers.

The Motherwell boss has been pleased with recent displays but wants that to continue at the so called bigger venues in the country.

Suicidal thoughts and depression can quietly infiltrate your life, influencing every moment, every action, and every day.

This ongoing struggle can gradually gain control, but it doesn’t have to.

When you don’t have the strength to take another step, ask those you love to pull you. You’re never alone in this.

In 2024, there were 704 probable suicide deaths in Scotland. 704 too many. We will keep fighting to help those who need it. Speak up, speak out, be heard.

• Samaritans: 116 123
• Mind: 0300 102 1234
• National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK: 0800 587 0800
• Papyrus: Call 0800 068 41 41
• Text 07860 039967
• Childline: 0800 1111

Or Text “SHOUT” to 85258

Motherwell Football Club would also like to extend its sincere appreciation to both Terry Nelson and Logan Fotheringham for their participation in this video. Both actors are from the local area and ensured they could take part in the hope they can help those who need it.

You can find Terry on Instagram( tsn_1981) and X (@TSNelson81).

You can find Logan on Instagram (@loganfotheringham_) and TikTok (@logan.fotheringham).